Jose Reyes Linked to Troubled Sports Physician

According to a report in today’s New York Daily News,New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes visited scrutinized doctor Dr. Tony Galea numerous times.

Galea is a physician based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who is noted for using a technique called blood spinning to help athletes recover from injuries more quickly.

As described in the article, the blood-spinning technique “involves putting a patient’s blood in a centrifuge to separate the platelets then injecting the blood back into the patient.”

In addition to Reyes, Galea’s past and present clients include professional golfer Tiger Woods, NFL quarterback Chris Simms, and current free agent first baseman Carlos Delgado.

There has been a bit of controversy surrounding Dr. Galea as of late. Other medical professionals, such as the former medical director of the New York Road Runners, Dr. Lewis Maharem, have questioned the effectiveness of his methods of treatments.

Clearly, the doctor’s efforts in healing Reyes’ injured hamstring proved ineffective, as the star would later undergo surgery in October to repair the injury.

Additionally, the doctor is under investigation by the Canadian authorities after it was found that one of his former business associates was carrying human growth hormone, as well as the doctor’s medical bag.

While on WFAN yesterday, when the topic of HGH use was brought up, Reyes was quick to point out:

"No, no, no, nothing like that. He treat me. I went there. He just did like, PRP treatment for me. It was my own blood."

I have to admit that I am very concerned when I read about current Mets players being tied to what appears to be a questionable doctor.

I don’t understand what the allure was to trying unproven treatments when in fact there were more traditional methods available.

Had Reyes have pursued other forms of medical treatment sooner, he potentially could have recovered more quickly and could have had more time to gear up for the 2010 season.

For more information on Dr. Galea and his medicinal practices, check out this article in the New York Daily News.